Well-digging machine



Sept. 2 1924.

G. w. HANNA WELL DIGGING MACHINE and law 8. 1923 2 shun-nan 1 Sept. 2 1924.

G. w. HANNA WELL DIGGING MACHINE Filod' llay 8,

1923 2 Shun-8M0! 2 5 Wu cam Cox Patented Sept. 2, 1924i UNITED STATES GEORGE WILLIAM HANNA, F SARDIS, TENNESSEE.

WELL-DIGGING MACHINE.

Application filed May 8, 1923.

T0 aZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, GEORGE W. HANNA, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hinlrle, P. O. Sardis, R. F. D. 2, in the county of Hardin and State of Tennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVell-Digging Machines, of which the following is a specification.

In carrying out the present invention, it is purpose to provide a machine that is well adapted for digging wells in a novel, simple and expeditious manner.

The primary object of the invention resides in the provision of such machine that is not only comparatively simple of construction, but one that will embrace at the same time the desired features of simplicity, durability and high efficiency of operation, the machine comprising relatively few parts, and these so correlated as to reduce the possibility of disarrangement to a minimum.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of such a machine, that is capable of being readily moved from place to place.

A still further object resides in the provision of such a machine wherein the dig ging element per se is provided with novel means for extracting rocks, boulders or the like from the ground.

The nature and advantages of the invention will be better understood when the fol lowing detailed description is read in connection with the accompanying drawings, the invention residing in the construction, combination, and arrangement of parts as claimed.

In the drawings forming part of this application, like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my i1nproved machine.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof, and

Figure 3 is an enlarged vertical cross section of the digging element, per se.

Referring to the drawings in detail, my invention comprises a relatively elongated flat-like supporting frame 5, equipped with a rear stationary axle 6 and a front swivel axle 7 upon the ends of which are supporting wheels 8. The frame is equipped with a pair of spaced vertically extending standards 9 and 10 respectively, between which is journaled a cross shaft 11. Fixed upon this shaft 11 is a relatively long cable drum Serial No. 637,409,

12 adjacent one end of which is a spur gear 18, loose upon the shaft, there being formed at one side clutch teeth 1%, which are complementary to a clutch element 15 splined upon the shaft 11 between the end of the drum and the adjacent standard 10. The opposite end of the cable drum 12 is equipped with a brake drum 16, surrounding which is desirable form of brake band 17, that is actuated by a foot pedal 18, suitably pivotally secured to the adjacent shaft standard 9.

The said clutch element 15 is provided with a grooved. collar in engagement with which is the yoked end of a throw lever 19, pivotally secured at to the standard 10, it being of course understood that when this lever is actuated in one direction, the clutch element 15 will be engaged with the clutch teeth 14 for rotating the drum when the gear 13 is rotated in a manner hereinafter set forth, for thereby operatively connecting the same to the shaft 11.

The free end of the frame 5 is provided with a suitable form of freely rotatable bevel ring gear 21, which may be rotated by horse power through the medium of a laterally projecting tongue 22, that carries a singletree If desirable, this ring gear 21 may be rotated through the medium of a gasoline engine or electric motor not shown).

Extending longitudinally for a portion of the frame length is a shaft 25, journaled within standards 26 and 27. as well as the standard 10, for the shaft 11. The front end of this shaft is equipped with a bevelled gear 28, which is in mesh with the said ring gear 21. Adiacent the rear end of the shaft 25., the same is equipped with a spur gear 29, that is in mesh with a spur gear 30 upon a stub shaft 31 journaled between the stand ards 10 and 27, this last mentioned gear be ing also in mesh with the gear 13 of the cable drum 12, it being noted from a consideration of Figure 1, that the gears 29 and 30 are relatively smaller than the gear 13 for obvious purposes.

Extending upwardly and outwardly from one side of the frame 5, and rigidly secured thereto is a somewhat inverted V-shaped frame 32" the upper end of which is equipped with a loose pulley 33.

Connected at one end to the drum 12 and adapted to he wound thereon is a cable 34, the opposite end thereof being extended upwardly and laterally from the frame and engaging over said pulley 33 and being thence connected to a digging element 35.

This digging element 35 is somewhat in the form of a bucket comprising a cylindrical open ended shell of desirable length and diameter, the upper end thereof being equipped with a bail 36 that carries a hook 37 for engagement within a ring 38 carried by the free end of the cable 34.

In view of the above description, it will at once be apparent that when the cable 34: is wound upon the drum 12 through the medium of animal or other power, the bucket 35 will be raised. By releasing the clutch element from the clutch teeth 14, the bucket will drop under its own weight, and thereby embedding itself into the ground, which will when the same is raised from the ground, withdraw a portion of the earth.

In Figure 3, there is shown a form of digger that is adapted to be used in conjunction with this machine, the same being associated with novel means for withdrawing rocks, boulders and the like from the ground. In this instance, the same comprises an open ended cylindrical shell 39 of desirable length and diameter, and being formed at its upper end with upwardly and" inwardly extending arms IO integral with which is a bar" or rod 41. lVithin the shell 39 and at opposite sides thereof is a pair of grapple rods &2 that are pivoted within the shell as at as, the upper ends of these rods extending inwardly at 44, and thence upwardly at 45. The upper end of the shell 39 carries a pair of laterally inwardly extending bars 46 that areheaded at their inner ends, these bars extending through openings in the portions of said grapple bars I2. Coiled springs 47 encircle said rods between the bucket and parts 1-5 of the bars 42 and normally maintaining the same in position as shown in Figure 3.

Freely slidable through a central opening in the cross bar I8 is a rod 49, the lower end of which carries a roller 50 that is adapted for engaging the adjacent portions of the grapple bars, when the same are movedupwardly in the manner presently to be set forth. This roller 50 is normally maintained downward, out of engagement with the grapple bars, through the medium Secured at one end tothe upper end of the rod I9 is a pair of of a coiled spring 51.

cables 52, the upper end thereof being sethere be a boulder or other obstruction within the ground, an upward movement of the bucket through the medium of the cable 34 will consequently cause an engagement of the roller ,50 with the upper ends of the grapple bars 42, for thereby swinging the lower ends of the same inwardly into engagement with the boulder.

When the apparatus is operated by horse power, the wheels 8 are removed from their axles, and the frame ofthe machine is low ered upon the surface of the ground. The horse is secured to the singletree 23 and moved around the center of the longer bevelled gear wheel. There is ample clearance space along the intermediate portion of the shaft 25 to permit the horse to step over the said shaft as it moves in a circular path. In view of the above description, it will at once be apparent that I have provided a highly novel form of well digging machine,

and even though I have hereinshown anddescribed my machine as comprising certain structural elements, it is nevertheless to be understood that these elements may be modified to meet different demands without departing from the scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention,

what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

In apparatus of the character described, the digger comprising a cylindrical shell, means for hoisting the shell, grapple rods pivotally mounted within the shell at the upper portion thereof and having angularly disposed upper end portions extending to wardthe intermediate portion of the shell,

springs interposed between the shell and the upper end of the said angularly disposed portion and adapted to normally hold the lowerport'ions' ofthe gripper rod against the inner surface of the shell, a roller located between the angularly disposed portions of the gripper rod, and means operatively connecting the roller with the hoisting means for the shell. I .e g r In testimony whereof I afliX my signature.

GEORGE WILLIAM HANNA. 

